Commanding my morning! (Cindy Trimm)

COMMANDING MY MORNING

 Cindy Trimm’s Devotional

I stand to command my morning and declare it is a new day.

 “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Jeremiah 31:33

Today is the dawning of a new day.

My season of frustration and failures they are finished.

And I walk in a season of success and prosperity.

Old things have passed away.

All things have become new. 

I have a fresh excitement.

I have a fresh mind. 

I have a fresh zeal.

I have a fresh anointing that is uncontaminated and without compromise.

Everything preventing my breakthrough must give way to the power & purpose of God.

By this anointing, every yoke is broken off my life off and is destroyed.

Every burden is lifted. 

 “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt. 11-28

 Notes taken from Cindy Trimm’s Devotional. I have used this devotional hundred of times. Every time it has blessed my life.  This is why, I am publishing it on my BLOG.  

Denise

Permit even this.....

PERMIT EVEN THIS…

Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this….” Luke 22:51 (NKJV)

We all have come face to face with situations that we really wished could have been avoided or resolved in a different fashion. At times we also have felt the Lord leading us down a path with no clear instructions, but at the same time have felt a strong sense of going forward knowing that He would lead us through each step.

In these situations, in faith, we need to say to the Lord: “Permit even this….”  This is called surrender.

I have been through many of these situations, where I honestly did not know the why, the how and the direction in which the Lord was leading. I must admit that many times I resisted and wrestled with the not knowing the why and the how.

But I have learned that wrestling and resisting has only brought me anxieties, times of discouragement and even despair.

In Genesis 12:1, the Lord told Abraham to go to a land he did not know. If you notice, God told Abraham to go, but He did not give him a list of instructions. Abraham had to activate his faith and go before the Lord would give him directions.

In the past I have tried to convince God to please explain to me the why and the how. I was willing to trust Him, if He gave me an explanation.

One day as I was crying and complaining. I asked Him why I was going through so much pain. This was His answer that He gently dropped in my spirit: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

That immediately stopped me from questioning and complaining.

Over the years, I have found it easier to say: “Permit even this….”, because every time I have let go and trusted Him completely, the problem or situation was resolved in a positive way and in a much better than I had imagined.

Even as I write this article something is happening in my life for which I have no understanding. Once more, I started to complain but it did not last long.

After a few minutes of self-pity, I realized I was not going to go anywhere but negative on this matter. I do not need to tell the Lord what I have done or have not done, what I need or do not need. He already knows.

Instead, I started to thank my Heavenly Father for the fantastic way He is going to resolve this situation. In the last few days, I have had to repeat several times: Lord, Permit even this….”,

For the last 28 years, the Lord has provided in so many ways, in so many circumstances that it gives me faith that whatever I need for myself at this time, for my family or for the ministry.......HE SHALL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE.

When the Lord takes you in an unusual direction, don’t resist, wrestle or rebel. Instead, lean into His embrace and whisper, “Permit even this”. Heaven will tell the magnificent story of all that happens as a result. instead pray:“Lord, today, help me to say: ”Yes, Lord permit even this” ***

Whatever problem, difficulty or stress you are facing today remember that Jesus is with you always. His Word says: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NIV)

It is best to surrender and say: “Lord, permit even this!”

You will be amazed at how peaceful you will be and how well the Lord will take care of you.

Have a blessed day everyone!   Denise

*** Quotation taken from “Quiet time for Women” by Catherine Martin

Old is an attitude

OLD IS AN ATTITUDE

Old is an attitude more than the number of your years.

Old is a mindset. If you think old, you will sound and look old

Don’t talk or think old because of you are a senior citizen

Don’t talk about your aches and pains to everyone

Or worse don’t talk about the aches and pains of someone else

Don’t talk about who died unless it is absolutely necessary

Don’t dress old. Wear comfortable shoes but fashionable ones

Don’t go to a hairdresser that will cut and set your hair that will make you look old

Don’t neglect your nails, get a manicure

Don’t let people talk down to you because of your age

Hang out with younger people, not just people your own age

Listen to what your young adult grandchildren have to say. Spend time with them

Keep a sense of adventure, try new things

Keep a young mind, your body will perform better if you do.

Keep a young soul. Let the Lord use you to serve others

Keep a positive attitude about everyone and everything

Be aware of what is going on in the world

The older you get the more determined you should be to try to do something new

Get out of the box and do something to scare yourself, like wearing a bright color or a little make-up

On a daily basis, declare this verse over your life in Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV): But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; 

They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Keeping the dream alive !

Roger & Denise's testimony 

 

In 1990, with a calling on our lives and a dream in our hearts, my husband Roger and I left Ottawa for the mission field of Tijuana, Mexico. 

We sold everything we had and moved to San Diego, C.A. For 15 years, working as volunteers, we took the Gospel, food and clothing across the Mexican border. Learning the language and the culture helped us bring the love of Jesus and the hope of the Gospel to thousands of poor children in many of Tijuana's poorest shanty towns.

From our very comfortable lives in Ottawa, owning our own Chartered Accountant firm, to helping the poor children of Mexico was  certainly a life changing experience.

Nevertheless, these were also the happiest years of our lives. 

In March of 2008, my precious husband passed away. A non-smoker, he fought a 2 ½ year courageous battle with lung cancer.

He was the love of my life and my best friend. He was a man of strong faith. I still miss him terribly. A few days before he died, I promised him was that I would continue the work we had started together and that I would make him proud. 

I have kept that promise. With the grace of God, I continue to answer God’s call on my life, to honor Roger’s memory.  Daily, I continue to live “our” dream.

I have a team of wonderful Mexican volunteers that are responsible for the daily activities. Together, we continue to feed the kids and teach them the Word of God.

I am very blessed to have the opportunity to continue to help some of the poorest children in Tijuana. With our Spanish curriculum freely available on the Tender Loving Care Children Ministries website, I can also continue to help hundreds of pastors and children workers all over the Hispanic world.

I am also very grateful to the Lord for my family, for my many friends and for our TLCCM partners for their continued prayer and financial support. They help me keep “our” DREAM ALIVE!

Denise

Tender Loving Care Children Ministries website: www.tlccm.net or our email address: tlccm@roger.com

No more nights !

NO MORE NIGHTS !

Someday there will no more nights, no more storms, pain or suffering. 

There will be no more death, mourning or tears.

You will enjoy God in a whole new way in heaven,

 because you will see HIM face to face.

This vision of eternity was given by John (read Revelation chapter 4),

 the beloved apostle, to pass along to a suffering and persecuted church.

A vision of eternity gives hope and endurance to suffering believers.

The promise of no more nights helps you see the rest of your story.

Your promised future in heaven gives you the truth 

you need to press through your present trials.

This life is not all there is, nor is it the best there is.

You have a future and a hope 

with the Your Lord in paradise, where the SON always shine.

He is the light of heaven and the light in your heart even now.

“Lord, thank You for being the light of the world

 and the bright and shining star in my life.”

  This article was written by Catherine Martin author of several devotionals, 

that have inspired and encouraged me over the years.

Please be encouraged that even though right now, the journey is  difficult, the Lord has not       abandoned you. Difficult times are always times to hang on to the Lord. He is with you at all times.

   Denise

Be an Inspiration

         
                

BE AN INSPIRATION !

LIFE is better when you are happy.

           

           But, LIFE is at it's best when others 

are happy because of you.

           Be faithful in touching other's hearts.

           BE AN INSPIRATION !

           Nothing in nature lives for itself.
           Rivers do not drink their own water.
           Trees do not eat their own fruits.
           The sun does not shine for itself.
           Flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.

           Living for others is a rule of nature.

           We were all born to help each other.

           No matter how difficult the situation you find yourself in,
           still do good to others.  God's grace is sufficient to you!

           BE AN INSPIRATION !

           Denise 

       (author unknown, I found this quotation in an article I was reading and it really 

              blessed my heart, so I thought I would share it with you.)

        

       

        

Watch for the small cloud

Watch for the small cloud!

In 1 Kings 18:41-44 (NIV) we read: “And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”

⁴² So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

⁴³ “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

⁴⁴ The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.”

Elijah was persistent, seven times, he sent his servant to look for a cloud. That cloud was the sign that rain was coming.

But, the servant saw nothing until the seventh time, then he saw a cloud smaller than a man’s hand. He ran back to tell Elijah.

That was the sign Elijah was waiting for. Even, if it was only a small cloud, Elijah immediately got ready.

At times we pray but it seems that we are like Elijah’s servant, we see nothing. We do not see any changes or improvements in our situation.

Nevertheless, we cannot stop praying, we cannot stop believing, we cannot stop trusting God with the problem at hand.

In every situation, we need to look for the smallest positive sign that the Lord shows us to encourage us to pursue in prayer and in faith, that nevertheless, God is in control, God is at work on our behalf.

In faith we always need to be ready for that “small” cloud.  When we see a sign, even a small positive sign, it is time to get ready for our breakthrough. We need to get ready always trusting that His timing is perfect. It is also the time start thanking God for the “rain” that is coming our way.

Once the breakthrough comes, it will be like a blessed rain cloud that will fill your life with joy, peace, satisfaction, happiness, but mostly with this wonderful feeling that through it all God has remained faithful to take care of you.

Sincerely,

Denise

Trust the Lord or Worry?

                                                               Trust the Lord or Worry?

When difficult times come our way and they do, we have two options.

We can trust God or we can worry. It seems that the choice is easy to make but in reality it is not always that easy. Worry makes us stressed out and full of fear.

At times, our situations are challenging just because we do not understand what the Lord has in mind for us. Not knowing is difficult for the ones of us who like to have an organized life, with everything in it’s place or time.

We call that “our agenda”, but the Lord calls it: “Trust me!”

During difficult situation, we need to trust God and believe that He is good and faithful. We need to believe that however He does resolve our situation or how long it takes to see Him at work in our situation, His way is the always the best way and so is His timing.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. ⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

One morning, about six months after Roger died, I was praying or rather you could say that I was complaining. Nothing made sense to me. I was grieving and lonely. I was disappointed because I had not received the miracle I had prayed for during Roger’s 28 months battle with lung cancer.

At one point during my litany of complaints, I heard the Lord say to me: “Denise, my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways higher than your ways”.

Those words immediately stopped the complaining. It was immediate. Peace came over me. A peace which I really had not felt in months. Yes, I cried, but somehow those tears were tears of relief from the burden of not trusting God, which I had been carrying.

I stayed there in my chair until I felt HIS peace completely flood my heart, my mind and my spirit. Then I asked for HIS forgiveness.

Did I or do I understand why Roger died, no, I still don’t, but after that morning I never felt the need to ask the Lord the WHY question. I just decided to trust Him! Since that day, His peace about this matter has never left me.

BE STILL & KNOW THAT I AM GOD

Psalm 46:10a (NIV) He says, “Be still, and know that I am God…” 

My quiet time with the Lord is my daily time to be still and spend time with the Lord. 

It also determines the intimacy of my relationship with Him. More time with the Lord, more intimate is my relationship with Him.

My quiet time with the Lord is the source of my strength to face my day. It gives me peace, it gives me comfort and it keeps me from getting discouraged when I go through difficult times. My quiet time with the Lord keeps me from giving up during the most difficult situations in my life. 

It is also the time where I hear from Him and I get to see some breakthroughs and the wisdom to wait for other breakthroughs to come to fruition because I know He is always working behind the scenes on my behalf.

Be yourself!

Dear friends,

Be yourself!

Don’t let anyone bring you down so low that you will resent or worse, you will hate them. 

Do not let people's critical spirit invade your soul.

Instead, release them from the hold they have or they think they have on you.  Continue to live with peace in your heart. Life is too short and it is not worth wasting your time trying to prove to anyone that you have worth and value. 

1 Corinthians 15:10(NIV) says: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” 

Always strive to be the best person you can possibly be, stay strong. Let the Lord guide you every step of the way.  Learn to love yourself even when you make a mistake.

Do not hold on to bitterness and anger because this will only hinder your happiness. Your life is much too precious to spend another minute worrying about someone that never does anything positive to better your relationship.

Learn to walk away from relationships that are high maintenance. Say goodbye, forgive them, pray for them, wish them well and peacefully walk away.

After all, if you stay peaceful, you will become a better and stronger person.

Someday, those critical people will see the light and appreciate the beautiful person that you are. 

God bless you!

Denise